CHARLES DICKENS AND SOCIAL CRITIQUE IN VICTORIAN ENGLAND

Abstract

Charles Dickens stands as arguably the most influential novelist of the Victorian era, not only for his captivating storytelling and memorable characters but, crucially, for his relentless and impactful social critique. Writing amidst a period of unprecedented industrialization, rapid urbanization, and profound social inequality, Dickens utilized his literary platform to expose the systemic injustices and moral hypocrisies embedded within Victorian society. This article explores Dickens's methods of social commentary, including his use of vivid characterization, satire, sentimentality, and intricate plot structures, to highlight pressing issues such as poverty, the failures of the legal and educational systems, and the dehumanizing effects of industrialism. Through detailed analyses of works like *Oliver Twist*, *Bleak House*, and *Hard Times*, it will demonstrate how Dickens’s novels functioned as powerful catalysts for public awareness and, in some instances, social reform, cementing his legacy as a compassionate observer and a formidable advocate for the disadvantaged in 19th-century England.